Rakesh Pathania basking in new-found glory

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close affinity with Himachal is no secret but the manner in which he met Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania at Sissu in Lahaul left many baffled. Not many would be aware of the fact that Modi camped in Nurpur when Pathania contested his first election from Nurpur, a by-poll, for more than a month following Sat Mahajan’s election to the Lok Sabha. 

“I was myself surprised when he said you have put on a lot of weight as you were very lean,” says Pathania. With the Prime Minister talking to Pathania amidst full media glare for a pretty long time many party men felt uneasy. Pathania, of course, is basking in the new revelation of his decades old association with the Prime Minister.

Special favours by PWD

Though not an elected representative, a powerful BJP leader, who calls shot in the government, has been given special favours by the PWD. Political circles are abuzz with talks of a road in Jwalamukhi. Sources said the road was specially diverted for of a few kms in Jawalamukhi to bring the house of the BJP leader along the road. Though the department had to spend a few lakhs extra for changing its alignment, it was good enough to please those in power!

Law and order under scanner

Law and order in the bordering Baddi- Barotiwala - Nalagarh belt has once again come under the scanner with operations of inter- state hardcore criminals from Punjab coming to fore. An attempt made to browbeat a trader by firing at his office. It has exposed how fearlessly the criminals operate. Whether the police would manage to nab such criminals remains to be seen as a majority of the policemen posted here do have the right connections. But whether they have the right acumen is yet to be proved!